The Do's and Dont's for HS Success

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It has come to my attention how darkness is not always negative. Growth happens beneath the earth, in the absence of light, where seeds are sewn and the cultivating begins.

The seedling cracks through with imagined pain in order to push through the dirt towards the sunlight in order to one day bare fruit or not.. the process is what is important to note. Like life we begin with small steps familiar to all, lived by all, from the first breath to the first failure, whatever that may be, yet the important thing is to keep going.

This happens every day and the more it is done, the more it is the norm. So what if the predestined road was not your route to your destination? What if you are destined for more than what you were told?

How do we, with fear step outside of our comfort zone?

I began my journey in my young adult years, BELIEVING I was going to teach at an early age. That wasn’t the case, a catastrophic failure took me outside of my comfort zone and I went as far as moving to the other side of the world to get away from all that was familiar, yet teaching happened to still be my destination, it just took more LIVING in order to become a better teacher.

Today I subconsciously surround myself with this unique sort of people, the Webster dictionary classifies them as entrepreneurs. They dare to not only see themselves in a different light, they enter it, they absorb it, like the seedling that needs it to grow. They use it like nourishment and grow. They fulfill their purpose and by doing so, they allow the community to grow.

I have joined this one truly remarkable entity that has as its mission to be a fueling agent between designers and tangible success. Black Fashion World seeks to be the connection of knowledge, resources, and a networking web for primarily under served, underrepresented, unsung Black and Brown designers. In a multi-million dollar industry, only 1% of the designers fit that group and according to BFW’s founder Carla Nelson, ‘It is time to be part of the solution.’

April Walker of Walker Wear is a legend and a fitting example of entrepreneurial success. She shared her insightful wisdom as the guest speaker to a cocktail fundraiser for BFW in Harlem’s Mintons Playhouse with like minded guests that are a part of the solution. The guest list had established designer’s such as Mr. Wilbur Pack, Jr. of SKWilbur to budding ones, like FIRST IMPRESSIONS, Taide Argelia, whom stepped out of her comfort zone, teaching what she lives for, Fashion. Fashion High hated to see her go, yet how can we stand by and not encourage the growth of one of our own, when this is what we preach and encourage in our youth?

I must say, thanks to those that can dive into the unknown, with inherent fearlessness and tenacious drive, to the complacent, they serve as the much needed example..

Many of our students enter our decades, almost century old institution with the dream of becoming a fashion designer as famous as Coco Chanel, or maybe humbly, a more modern designer like the ‘next’ Narciso Rodriguez. Whether it be either, both share the same beginnings of many of our students, they came from very little.

After four years, our fashion design students take different routes. As their adolescent personalities discover more and more about their own identities, they may decide, justly so, that Fashion as a career is not for them. Some may realize that they are creative yet not in the needle trades, or some may decide to explore another field completely different from the one they began. Such is the story of HSFI Alumnus Tiffany Barlow, whose interest started in Fashion Merchandising and now is studying Pre Law.

Yet for the few, whom for which Fashion High only served as the ignition to their passion for Fashion Design, these four years are ONLY THE BEGINNING!

At Fashion High those few are in their blissful surroundings, their second home, encircled by kindred spirits that understand what they feel, because they love what they love and to see them at work, from an adults perspective can inspire hope in humanity. The vicious competition that stenches the industry has not set in, their adolescent need to want to belong and loved propels them to help each other.

Its a hopeful sight in today’s malicious world.

And just imagine, aside from all they learn, the peaks they can climb towards their final elevation, when their High School introduces them to a professional Fashion Show just for Teens! and showcased the same weeks as New York Fashion Week!

Our students have invested their summers with Florence University of the Arts studying courses such as Florence Sketchbook, Italian Food & Wine, Italian Language, Retail and Hospitality..

This past summer three of our students were able to go thanks to FUA’s generosity. Their scholarship opportunities gave them the chance to have their ‘impossible’ turn into ‘possible’ and along with 7 other young ladies, discovered what fuels their passion.

They have returned with stories, moments, lessons to tell, to share and tonight they spoke their hearts out to our guests from Harry S. Truman High School. Culinary students with their mentor/instructor Chef Brylski came and joined in this years presentation.

Cookies ready to be decorated….

CHEF Simone begins the Demo…

Direction…

Artistry in Action…

We were so happy to have shared our time with other high school students that believe in their future and work hard towards making it happen..

This year one of Harry S. Truman High School Seniors will have the opportunity to travel to Florence to further their passion for the Culinary Arts..